Friday, April 22, 2011

I read tens of letters on the topic of Ivies' admission of AsianAmerican applicants, many were for my eyes only and therefore honestlyexpressed. They helped to educate me. Most were very thoughtful. A fewwere astoundingly self-centered. At the risk of speaking too soon, I want toshare my unique perspective gained from reading those letters.

We Are Again Our Own Enemy

Asian Ams too often emphasize success but not "paying forward"in life. As a result we lack social conciousness. We frequently view educationas a means to achieve fame and fortune and give too little weight tohelping the society and the world. Many parents are that way. Evenour youngsters, having taken so many pictures of their parents' priorities,are often that way. Even when our youngsters volunteer for a public cause,it was to shine up their resumes.

Once we've added social conciousness to our focus on education anddiligence, once the earlier AsAm Ivies graduates have begun todistinguish themselves in not just making money but also to betteringthe community, nation and the world, Ivies are certain to want AsAms more.

Why? Because it makes Ivies proud to have such graduates. Iviesalready have their share of graduates who know how to make money. Isit Ivies' fault that they want more of their graduates to be leaders whotry to benefit the nation and the world?

Is It All Our Fault? No. Ivies probably Discriminate.

Having said the above, I personally also suspect, with only indirectevidences, that Ivies discriminate against Asian Am applicants.

Evidence 1: UC, Berkeley has admitted much higher % of Asian Ams, afterit adopted a race-blind admission policy, although it has NOT de-emphasized the need for diversity in all other aspects. If anything, UCprobably added weight to the value of diversity except race. Hence, thetypical conjecture that Ivies reject many Asian Am applicants with superbacademic achievements owing to their lack of other talents is probablyfalse.

Evidence 2: When our nation clearly discriminates against AsianAmerican adults in their career path to managerial levels in workplaces,(See irrefutable evidence in the full page announcement in WashingtonPost shown below, sponsored by 80-20 & published on Sept. 6, 2006), whywould it hesitate to discriminate against the Asian Am youngsters? Notethat the analysis shown in Chart 1 has been verified in writing byEEOC's Chief Statistician Ronald Edwards.

A Simple Win-Win Solution

Asian Ams need to keep the good part of our culture (emphasisin 483 education, work ethic, caring for relatives, . . , etc.) and add a heavydose of social conciousness to our value system. It'll not only resultin less discrimination against our children in Ivies but also less discrimi-nation against our adults in workplaces. Note that a general increase insocial conciousness among Asian Ams will inevitably add to greater AsianAm GROUP political clout which is the best way to deter discriminationagains an immigrant community. America will win too. It'll become a"more perfect Union" and will have more talented citizens more motivatedto serve our nation

Respectfully,

S. B. Woo, A volunteer President80-20 Educational Foundation. In thisarticle, he speaks for himself only